Page 26 of Innocently Imprisoned By the Bratva

My heart starts to pound as anxiety creeps in. "Really, Tim, I appreciate it, but I'm not—"

"Didn’t you hear her say no?" Lev's voice cuts through the air, and I've never been so relieved to see him. He saunters over, a triumphant look on his face as he puts down a copy of Great Expectations on the table before me.

"Thanks, Lev," I say hurriedly, snatching the book from the table. "Tim was just leaving."

"Really?" Lev's eyes narrow as he glares at Tim. "Because it sounded like he wasn't taking no for an answer."

"Lev—" I start, but he holds up a hand to silence me.

"Tim," he says icily. "I suggest you walk away before I lose my patience."

“Oh yeah? And who the hell do you think you are?” Tim antagonizes him, looking Lev up and down. “Her sugar daddy or something?”

I gasp at the insinuation, and time slows still as I see Lev’s face redden with rage. Lev leaps forward, and grabs Tim’s collars, slamming him against the wall. Lev leans forward, and grabs his hand.

The moment Lev grabs Tim's wrist and twists it, I can see the pain contorting Tim's face. He drops to his knees, gasping for breath as Lev towers over him with a chilling glare.

"Lev," I protest, my voice shaking. "That's enough!"

"Listen closely, Tim," Lev growls, ignoring my plea. "If you so much as look at Pippa again, I'll break every single one of your fingers. Understood?"

"Lev!" I exclaim, grabbing his arm in an attempt to pull him away. "You're going too far!"

"Fine," he snaps, releasing Tim's hand with a shove that sends him sprawling onto the library floor. As Tim scrambles up and scurries away, I wrap my hand around Lev's wrist, leading him toward a secluded area of the library.

"Lev," I begin, struggling to keep my voice steady. "Why did you do that? That was beyond unnecessary."

"Maybe," he replies, his tone unapologetic. "But I don't like seeing guys harass you, and that guy was interested in you for all the wrong reasons, Pippa."

"Still, that doesn't give you the right to assault someone," I argue, though a part of me appreciates his protectiveness.

Once we reach the secluded area, the atmosphere shifts dramatically. The hushed whispers of students and the soft rustling of pages are muffled by the towering bookshelves surrounding us. The dim light filtering through the small windows casts a warm glow on the dusty volumes while the scent of old paper fills the air.

"Look, Pippa," Lev says softly, his eyes locking onto mine. "I know I went too far, but I just… I couldn't stand there and let that guy bother you."

I sigh, feeling my anger ebb away. "I understand that. But you need to learn how to control your temper."

"Maybe," he admits, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. "But I'm not going to apologize for protecting you," he leans forward and gently tucks back a strand of hair behind my ear.

Because of that one small gesture, I realize just how close Lev is standing, and my heart races—close enough for me to feel the heat radiating from his body and study the stormy depths of his eyes. The air feels thick with unspoken emotions, memories rushing back from the previous night when he held me close and claimed me with his lips, and I swallow hard, suddenly aware of every point of contact between us.

"Lev…" I whisper, my hands still wrapped around his wrist. He looks down at our entwined fingers, then back up to meet my gaze, a question in his eyes. Our faces are inches apart, and it takes all my willpower not to lean in and close that gap. His thumb strokes my wrist in a gentle caress, sending shivers down my spine.

"Tell me what you want, Pippa," he murmurs, his voice low and rough, filled with barely restrained desire.

I swallow hard, torn between my growing need for him and the confusion swirling inside me. What he’s asking me to do is something I’ve never done before with a man. I wonder if I should bite back, say nothing, and turn around.

But then I think back to all the good things that have happened in my life. None of them came from holding back or not taking risks.

"I… I want you," I admit softly, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. Before he can say a word, I get on my toes and place my hands behind his neck, pulling him in toward me. I hear him gasp as I take his lips against mine. A slow, sure fever burns through me, and I feel things in my body I’ve never felt before.

His lips are soft against mine, his kiss tender yet full of restrained passion. I groan and inch closer to him, gripping his shirt and pulling him closer. He pulls back, breathless.

“You sure?” he asks, giving me one last chance to back out. His voice, however, is husky with need. It tells me he wants this just as bad as I do.

"Yes," I breathe, my heart pounding in my chest.

The next thing I know, his eyes darken, and he slams me against the bookshelf hungrily, his lips meeting mine in a searing kiss full of passion and raw need. As his tongue dances with mine, I lose myself in the moment. With skilled hands, he slowly pulls up the ankle-length hem of my loose cotton dress, clutching it in his fingers as he raises it above my thighs, leaving a trail of fire wherever his fingers graze my newly exposed skin.

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